Stop motion for knitting machines with full range adjustment



July 18, 1950 2,515,479

E. VOSSEN STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES WITH FULL RANGE ADJUSTMENT Filed June 18, 1949 TTORNEY lPatented .lu-ly 18,7 1950 stror MOTION Fon KNITTING MACHINES WITH FULL RANGE ADJUSTMENT Edward Vossen, Lynbrook, N. Y., assignor to Stop- Motion Devices Corp., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June is, 1949, serial No; 100,008

(o1. ca -163) 12 Claims. n 1 v This invention relates to new and useful iinprovements in stop motions for knitting machines and the like, and has more particular reference to a stop notion with full range adjustments. A

n Heretofore, stop motion devices for indicating knots, slubs, and other drags, and broken and other ends have beenA constructed for diierent weights of yarn, Usuallya set of four stop motion devices were required to cover the entire range fromy light yarns of 60 single cotton, or l5 denier nylon, up to the heaviest yarns used ir knitting machines. The dominant object of this invention resides in a new constriwtionfor a stop motion device capable of adjustment to operate for the full range of yarns from the lightest tothe heaviest.

The prior stop motionsV used for the diiferent rangesoi'weights of yarn diilered from each other merely in the weights of the springs. ForV very light weights of'yarnlight springs were' used, and for the heavier weightsV heavier springs were required. It was found'that four weights of springs would cover adjustability for the entire range of yarn weights needed. However, because of the .four different ranges it was'necessary to carry' in stock stop motions equipped with the four diierent weights of springs. An immediate advantage gained with the new stop motion device, in ac cordance with this invention, which covers the entire range required, is that the amount of stock which must be carried is materially reduced. Moreover, because each of the stop motion devices for all oi the weights are absolutely identical, costs are lower because of greater mass production possible.

It is proposed that the full range adjustment for the new stop motion, in accordance with this in vention, be obtained by providing a. yarn drag detector finger and associating it with a pivoted pressure control leverfor moving the detector iinger upwards when the lever is pivoted in one direction. A switch for connection with the controller circuit of the knitting machine is con nected to operate when said detector iinger is moved downwards. This invention particularly proposes the use of a very light spring connected with said lever for pivoting said lever in the direction which urges the said detector finger upwards with the very slightest ofpressure so that the stop motion may be used on the lightest of y yarns, such as 60 single yarn or 15 denier nylon. Y

It is proposed that an adjustment screw be rotatively mounted substantially parallel to the lever mentioned in the previous paragraph. It is proposed that a follower be mounted on said screw andm'ovable from a position over the pivot of said lever outwards thereof. An important object oi this invention resides in providing said follower with a spring' loaded pressure point element with a control spring engageable on saidl pivot for zero pressure, and engageable upon points on said lever outwards of said pivot for increased pressure, depending upon itsV distance from said pivot. Another important object of this invention resides in providing a cam" extending along the path of said follower and engaging said control spring in order to increase and add to the pressure of the point element for different positions of the point element along the length of said lever. Because of this cam it ispossible' to suiliciently increase the pressure of the point element to cover the en'- tirel range of operation already referred to.

Another object of this invention resides in the use of a steel ball for comprising the pressure point element referred' to in the previous paragraph.-

It is also proposedto equip thestop motion lwith a yarn end detector nger and means for adjust# ing the tension thereof including an adjustment screw and follower threadedly mounted thereonl Another andimportant object of this invenn tion resides in the provsionvoi scales for indicating theA tensions of the yarn drag indicator finger and the yarn end detector finger so that the stop motion devicemay be setto selected tensions merely by theuse of the scales; This 'construction is quite important because it saves time in adjusting the stop motion device when different yarn i's used. Theoperator merelykeeps a record of just what tensions are required for the different yarns', and-when the yarn is changed all of the stop mom tions on the machine may be correctly set merelyl by adjusting' them in accordance with the read' ings of the scales. y

Because ofthe full rangeof` adjustment it is necessary that the contactispring or springs and the engaging contacts'be properly adjusted in the stop motion. For this reason this invention pro# poses to mount the' contact spring upon'an insulationblocl; and toprovideon'e ormor'e adjustment screws'by which the contact spring mayy be suitably fiexed and then held in relation to the con tact-s which are to'erigageit.

For further comprehension of the invention.,v

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had tothe followingfdescription and acompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various vnovel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

1 looking from Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentaryv horizontal sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, but drawn on a reduced scale.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6 5 of Fig. 3.

The stop motion with full range adjustment,y

in accordance with this invention, includes a box IIJ provided with a removable cover II.

the box I6 adjacent its edge for accommodating screws I3 by which the cover II is held in position. A pair of strips I4 are mounted on the box I0 and are provided with threaded openings I5 by which the box I0 may be, attached to a suitable support on a knitting or other machine.

The box Ill is provided with a supporting hood I6 at one side consisting of afront wall I7, an end wall I8, and a top wall I8. A yarn drag detector finger is4 mounted between the end .wall I8 and the adjacent end wall of the box Il). This detector finger 20 consists of a rod 2I mounted on an axle 22. A pair of finger sections 23 are mounted upon thel ends of the rod 2 I. The

axle 22 is mounted between the end wall I3 and the adjacent end of the box I6. The nger sections 23 are provided with the usual porcelain outer ends 24 through which the yarn 2'I may pass. A group of .stationary fingers 25 are mounted on the front wall I7 and extend forwards adjacent and between the finger sections 23. These fingers 25 are provided with porcelain portions 26 for assisting in guiding the yarn 2i. In Figs. 1 and 2 reference numeral 27 schematically indicates a strand of yarn mounted across nger sections 24 and extending beneath the porcelain sections 26 in the usual way in which yarns are threaded through similar stopmotions.

A pivoted pressure control lever 30 is connected with said detector finger 2i] for moving said detector finger 20 upwards when said lever 3l) is pivoted in one direction, namely downwards. More specifically, the lever 3D is formed from sheet metal and is bent to have atop wall 3i and side walls 32. Along its sides, the top wall 3| is provided with a pair of upwardly directed lugs 33. A pintle pin 34 engages through the lugs 33 and is secured to a block 35 attached to the back wall of the box I0. This pintle pin 34 forms the pivot for the lever 30. The axle 22 of the detector linger 25 passes through the end wall of the box IIJ and continues into a crank section 36 provided with a roller 3'I which engages the left hand end of the lever 30beneath its top wall 3| and between its sidewalls 32. A very light spring 38 is connected with the right hand vend of the lever 30 and extends upwards and .is mounted upon a pin 39 mounted on a block 4D attached to the back wall of the box I0. The pintle pin 34 is positioned quite close to the right hand end of the lever so that the spring 38 is at a mechanicaldisadvantage and exerts a very small pressure through the lever 35 upon the crank 36 and the axle 22 to the detector finger 20. This slight pressure pivots the detector SeveralV angle brackets I2 are attached to the inside of finger 20 upwards to a position in which the finger sections 23 engage the top ends of slots 42 formed upwards in the front wall I 'l from the bottom edge thereof.

In Fig. 2 the detector finger 20 is shown in its normal horizontal position with full lines, and the dot and dash lines show itpivoted downwards as it would appear when dragged down by tightening of the yarn 2'I. A stop 43 is mounted upon the `outer face of one end of the box IU for limiting downward pivoting of the detector linger 20 by acting as a stop by engaging one of the sections 23 thereof.

A switch consisting of a contact spring 45 and cooperating contact 46 is indirectly associated with the detector finger 25 so that said switch `45, 46 closes when the detector finger 25 is moved downwards. This switch 45, 46 is for connection with the usual controller circuit of the knitting machine. The contact spring 45 is mounted at its center upon an insulation block 4l mounted upon the back Wall ofthe box I3. A clip 48 connects with the center of the contact spring 45 and engages through an insulation bushing 49 mounted through the end wall of the box I5, and said clip4 connecting with the usual terminal clip 55 on the side of the box I0. The contact 46 is xedly mounted on the adjacent end of the lever 30. v I

It is pointed out that when the detector finger 25 moves downwards the crank 36 will pivot upwards, pivoting one end of the lever 3U upwards so that the other end is moved downwards against the restraining action of the spring 38. This latter end of the lever 30 carries the contact 46 which moves downwards to engage the bottom end portion of the contact spring 45. The bottom end portion of the contact spring 45 is bent forwards (see Fig. 4). It is held in a selected rearward position by an adjustment screw 52 engaging through the spring 45 and threadedly mounted upon the insulation block 41. The headv of the screw 52 holds the bent end of the contactl spring 45 in a selected forward position. However, the said end of the spring 45 is free to bend rearwards when the contact 46 engages it during its downward motion.

An adjustment screw 54 is rotatively mounted substantially parallel to the lever 35. This gdjustment screw 54 rotatively engaged through one end of the box IB and through the wall I5. The outer end of the screw 54 is provided with a knob 55 by which it may be turned. An S-shaped spring 56 (see Fig. 2) is attached at one end to the top wall I9 and its other end engages a groove 5l formed around the shank of the screw 54 for rotatively holding' the Screw 54 in rotative position and preventing it from moving longitudinally. A follower 58 is threadedly mounted on the screw 54 and is movable from a position over the pintle pin 34 of the lever 33 outwards thereof towards the left in relation to Fig. 3.

The follower 58 is provided with a spring loaded pressure point element 59 in the form of a steel ball 59. This steel ball 55 is engaged in the bottom of an opening 65 formed through the follower 58. the opening 6B and engages against thel steel ball 53 for providing suitable pressure. A cam 62 extends alongfthe path of the follower 53 and engages said pressure control spring 5I in order to increase and add to the pressure of the pivot element 59 when the follower 58 moves in one -edly mounted along the top wall of the box I0.

A control spring 6i is engaged in The followery 58 is provided with a slot 63 into which the cam 62 projects. This slot 63- extends through the opening 6e so that the cam 62 engages the top of the spring tl. r`Ehe cam 62 is so shaped that it is shallow above the pintle pin 34 and progressively-gets deeper away from the pintle pin 34 towards the left hand end of the lever 30, see Fig. 3.

The stop motion is also provided with an end detector finger 65. This nger is mounted upon the end of e, rod 5:35 turnably mounted througii the end walls of the box lil. The yarn end detector finger t5 has side portions te engaging between the fingers 25. It is also provided with a laterally projecting portion di engageable against one of the nger sections 2li. The yarn end detector finger 65, in the operating position of the stop motion, is in the dot and dash position as illustrated in 2, in which position it' is held down by yarn 2?. lhe rod is provided with a collar 693. A small tension spring 'lli is connected eccentrically on the collar for urging the rod t6 in a direction which moves the yarn end detector finger upwards to a raised posi-tion against a stop 64 mounted on the side of the box I. The bottom end of the spring lil connects with one arm li of a follower "i2 which has a top arm 13. A vertical screw iii is rota.- tively mounted in the box le) and threadedly engages the arms 'H and 'i3 of the follower l2. The bottom end of the screw 74 is provided with a slot 'l5 for a screw driver1 by which it may be turned. The top end of the screw 'i4 is provided with a reduced end 'lo which engages a collar 'il mounted in one of the strips i4. Collars i3 are mounted on the rod 56' adjacent the ends of the box it for holding the rod lie in position. A contact nnger 19 is mounted on the rod @d and in the raised position of the yarn end detector finger 55 engages the top forwardly bent end 23u of the contact strip 45. An adjustment screw Si is mounted in the insulation block il for controlling the distance to which the bent end 3d move forwards when disengaged by the contact 79. The contact 'i9 is in the form of a radial arm. When the yarn end detector finger $5 is moved downwards the contact i9 disengages from the end 8U of the contact spring 45.

The cover l i is provided with a vertical window opening 82 through which the edge of the arm 'll may be seen. A transparent pane 33 is mounted across the back of the window opening B2. A scale 84 is imprinted along the window opening 82. The cover ll is also provided with a horizontal window opening B5 through which a front portion 86 of the follower 58 may be seen. This front` portion 85 is imprinted with a vertical line 81 which may be seen through the window opening 85. `This vertical Si may be read in con-- junction with a scale 33 imprinted along the window opening 85. A transparent member 189 is mounted upon the back of the window opening 'd5 for closing it.

The operation of the stop motion may be understood from the following:

The tension of the yarn drag detector finger 2l!` may be adjusted through its full range by merely turning the knob 55 to turn the screw 54. Inthis way the follower 58 may be set so that the spring loaded pressure point element, namely the steel ball 59., rests cn the pintle pin 34 and in this position the pressure loaded steel ball 53 applies no pressure whatsoever upon the lever 30. Now merely the spring 38 supplies pressure to the lever S, which in turn transmits this (nl Y pressure to the crank 36 and the yarn drag dee' tector finger 20 for urging the latter upwards with a minimum of pressure for light yarns of single cotton or 15 denier nylon. If more pressure is needed for these yarns, or for heavier yarns, it is merely necessary to turn the knob 55 so as to move the follower 58 so that the spring loaded pressure point element 53 rides orf of the' pintle pin 34 and rests upon the lever 3U at a point ade jacent the pin 34. Now the spring El supple ments the pressure supplied by the spring 38. The pressure may be increased by continuing toL turn the knob 55 to cause the follower 5B to move further towards the left. This will increase the moment advantage of the pressure point element 59 in relation to the pivot pin 34. Furthermore, the carri EL is so designed as to increase the pressure of the spring iii, according to the curvature ofthe cam 52, so that the pressure point element 5S wil-l supply the necessary increased pressures for yarns all the way up to the heaviest yarns used on the knitting machine.

The tension of the yarn end detector finger E5 may be controlled by engaging a turning element in the slot l5, then the screw 'i4 is turned to move the follower 'i2' upwards or downwards so as to change the tension of the spring 'ld which controls the upward tension of the yarn detector nger An important feature of the new stop motion device resides in the fact that the settings of the follower end 'il along the scale 84, and of the line 8l along the scale 88 may be noted for different yarns and for different conditions so that the stop motion may easily be set to a desired reading to provide predetermined tensions. This is a great advantage in that all of the stop motions used in a particular knitting machine may be set to the same tensions.

Another important feature of this invention resides in the provision or the adjustment screws 52 and 8l by which the ends of the spring contact 45 may be adjusted for controlling the closing of th'e electric circuit through the stop motion.

rlhese screws :'52 and 8i limit the forward bending of the ends of the contact spring 45 so that they may be correctly positioned not to short circuit the stop motion. These adjustment screws 52 and 3l do not interfere with the rearward flexing of the spring contact 45 which is required when the cooperating contacts 45 and I9 engage said contact spring.

While I have illustrated and described the pr fer-red embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In a stop motion for knitting machines and the like, a pressure control lever, a pivot pivote-ily supporting said pressure control lever, a light spring connected with said lever for pivoting said lever in one direction with slight pressure, an ad justment screw rotatively mounted substantially parallel to said lever, a follower mounted on said screw and movable by turning said screw from a position over the pivot of said lever outwards thereof', a spring loaded pressure point element with a control spring mounted on said follower 'and engaging said pivot for zerov pressure. and

enga'g'eable upon points on and along said lever i by moving said follower with adjustments of said screw for supplementing the pivoting pressure of said rst named spring, and a cam extending along the path of said follower and engaging said control spring in order to vary the tension of said control spring for selected positions of said follower.

2. In a stop motion for knitting machines and the like, a pressure control lever, a pivot pivotally supporting said pressure control lever, a iight spring connected with said lever for pivoting said lever in one direction with slight pressure, an adjustment screw rotatively mounted substantially parallel to said lever, a follower mounted on said screw and movable by turning said screw from a position over the pivot of said lever outwards thereof, a spring loaded pressure point element with a control spring mounted on said follower and engaging said pivot for zero pressure and engageable upon points on and along said lever by moving said follower with adjustments of said screw for supplementing the pivoting pressure of said rst named spring, and a cam extending along the path of said follower and engaging said control spring in order to vary the tension of said control spring for selected positions of said follower, said follower having a slot into which said cam extends for slidably holding said follower non-rotative on said screw.

3. In a stop motion for knitting machines and the like, a pressure control lever, a pivot pivotally supporting said pressure control lever, a light spring connected with said lever for pivoting said lever in one direction with slight pressure, an adjustment screw rotatively mounted substantially parallel to said lever, a follower mounted on said screw and movable by turning said screw from a position over the pivot of said lever outwards thereof, a spring loaded pressure point element with a control spring mounted on said follower and engaging said pivot for zero pressure and engageable upon points on and along said lever by moving said follower with adjustments of said screw for supplementing the pivoting pressure of said first named spring, and a cam extending along the path of said follower and engaging said control spring in order to vary the tension of said control spring for selected positions of said follower, said pressure point element comprising a ball mounted in and projecting from an opening in said follower.

4. In a stop motion for knitting machines and the like, a pressure control lever, a pivot pivotally supporting said pressure control lever, a light spring connected with said lever for pivoting said lever in one direction with slight pressure, an adjustment screw rotatively mounted substantially parallel to said lever, a follower mounted on said screw and movable by turning said screw lfrom a position overthe pivot of said lever outwards thereof, a spring loaded pressure point element with a control spring mounted on said follower and engaging said pivot for zero pressure and engageable upon points on and along said lever by moving said follower with adjustments of said screw for supplementing the pivoting pressure of said first named spring, and `a cam extending along the path of said follower and engaging said control spring in order to vary the tension of said control spring for selected positions of said follower, said pressure point element comprising a ball mounted in and projecting from an opening in said follower, and said .control spring being mounted in said opening in s said fouower and acting between said bali and said cam.-

5. A stop motion for knitting machines and the like, comprising a yarn drag detector ringer, a pivot, a pressure control lever supported on said pivot, said pressure control leverl being cron,-I nected with said detector finger for moving saidV detector finger upwards when pivoted in one die rection, a switch for connection with` the controller circuit of the knitting machine and connected to operate when said detector linger is moved downwards, a light spring connected with said lever for pivoting said lever in said direction to urge said detector 4finger upwards with the slightest pressure, an adjustment screw rotatively mounted substantially parallel to said lever, a follower mounted on said screw and movable from a position over the pivot of said lever outwards thereof, a spring loaded pressure point element with a control spring mounted on said follower and engaging on said pivot for zero pressure and engageable upon points on said lever outwardsI of said pivot for increased pressure depending on its distance from said pivot, and a carn extending along the path of said follower and engaging said control spring in order to increase and add t0 the pressure of said point element.

6. A stop motion for knitting machines and the like, comprising a yarn drag detector Enger, al pivot, a pressure control lever supported on said pivot, said pressure control lever being connected with said detector linger for moving said detector finger upwards when pivoted in one direction, a switch for connection with the controller circuit of the knitting machine and connected to operate when said detector finger is moved downwards, a light spring connected with said lever for pivoting said lever in said direction to urge said detector nger upwards with the slightest pressure, an adjustment screw rotatively mounted substantially parallel to said lever, a follower mounted on said screw and movable from a position over the pivot of said lever outwards thereof, a spring loaded pressure point element with a control spring mounted on said follower and engaging on said pivot for zero pressure and engageable upon points on said lever outwards of said pivot for increased pressure depending on its distance from said pivot, and a cam extending along the path of said follower and engaging said control spring in order to increase and add to the pressure of said point element, .said follower having a slot into 'which said cam extends for slidably holding said follower non-ro,-`

tative on said screw. l

'7. A stop motion for knitting machines and the like, comprising a yarn drag detector finger, a pivot, a pressure control lever supported on said pivot, said pressure control lever being connected with said detector finger for moving said detector finger upwards when pivoted in one direction, a switch for connection with the controller circuit of the knitting machine and Aconnected to operate when said detector finger is moved downwards, a light spring connected with said lever for pivoting said lever in said directhereof, a spring loaded pressure point element with a control spring mounted on said follower and'engaging on said pivot for zero pressure and.; engageable upon points on said lever outwards of said pivot for increased pressure depending on its distance from said pivot and a cam extending along the path of said follower and engaging said control spring in order to increase and add to the pressure of said point element, said pressure point element comprising a ball mounted in and projecting from an opening in said follower.

8. A stop motion for knitting machines and the like, comprising a yarn drag detector linger, a pivot, a pressrue control lever supported on said pivot, said pressure control lever being connected with said detector finger for moving said detector nger upwards when pivoted in one direction, a switch for connection with the controller circuit of the knitting machine and connected to operate when said detector finger is moved downwards, a light spring connected with said lever for pivoting said lever in said direction to urge said detector finger upwards with the slightest pressure, an adjustment screw rotatively mounted substantially parallel to said lever, a follower mounted on said screw and movable from a position over the pivot of said lever outwards thereof, a spring loaded pressure point element with a control spring mounted on said follower and engaging on said pivot for zero pressure and engageable upon points on said lever outwards of said pivot for increased pressure depending on its distance from said pivot, and a cam extending along the path of said follower and engaging said control spring in order to increase and add to the pressure of said point element, and said control spring being mounted in said opening in said follower and acting between said ball and said cam.

9. In a stop motion for knitting machines and the like, a yarn drag detector inger, adjustable means for resisting changes of position of said yarn drag detector finger for given yarn tensions, means for adjusting said means including an adjustment screw and a follower threadedly mounted thereon, a yarn end detector finger, adjustable means for resisting changes of position of said yarn end detector finger for given yarn tensions means for adjusting said last i named adjustable means including an adjustment screw and a follower threadedly mounted thereon, a casing for said stop motion, and scales on said casing for indicating the positions of said 10 followers in order that the resistance to position changes of said fingers to yarn tensions may be set by reading said scales.

10. In a stop motion for knitting machines `and the like, a yarn drag detector nger, adjustable means for resisting changes of position of said yarn drag detector finger for given yarn tensions, means for adjusting said means including an adjustment screw and a follower threadedly mounted thereon, a yarn end detector iinger, adjustable means for resisting changes of position of said yarn end detector finger for given yarn tensions, means for adjusting said last named adjustable means including an adjustment screw and a follower threadedly mounted thereon, a Icasing for said stop motion, and scales on said casing for indicating the positions of said followers in order that the resistance to position changes of said fingers to yarn tensions may be set by reading said scales, said casing having a window opening through which said followers may be seen.

11. In a stop motion for knitting machines and the like, an insulation block, a conta-ct spring mounted upon said insulation block and having its contact end directed upwards, a contact for engaging said contact end of said conta-ct spring, and an adjustment screw threadedly mounted on said insulation block and engaging said spring for controlling the amount to which said contact end is directed upwards.

12. In a stop motion for knitting machines and the like, a yarn end detector finger, a turnable rod supporting said finger, a collar on said rod, a spring connected at one end eccentrically on said collar, va follower connected with the other end of said spring, and an adjustment screw turnably mounted and threadedly engaging said follower for controlling the tension of said spring.

EDWARD VOSSEN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Ingalls June 25, 1946 Number 

